The First World War's only Victoria Cross winner to be born in the rural East Riding will have a permanent memorial in his home village of Newton upon Derwent unveiled later this year. The government confirmed in March 2018 that it was to deliver a commemorative stone paver, engraved with the famous Victoria Cross image, to recognise the heroic exploits of Harry Blanshard Wood who won the VC in October 1918.

Harry Wood was born in Newton upon Derwent in June 1882, and his birth was registered at Pocklington, the head of the registration district, which erroneously led to some sources publishing Pocklington as his birthplace. He was from a Newton upon Derwent farming family, both his grandfathers farmed locally and his middle name, Blanshard, came from a local farmer great grandfather, but he became a professional soldier, serving with the Scots Guards. He had a quite unexceptional military career; before all that changed in the final weeks of the war when he was awarded the Military Medal for his courageous actions in the trenches in August 1918, and followed up by winning the Victoria Cross, the country's highest award for bravery, just two months later.

He returned home a hero, and was chosen as one of Britain's 100 bravest men to form the guard of honour at the burial of the Unknown Warrior in Westminster Abbey in 1920. But his remarkable story had a bizarre and tragic ending in 1924, when his wife was involved in a minor traffic incident and he collapsed with shock, never recovered and died a few days later.

In August 2013, Communities Secretary Eric Pickles announced a campaign to honour all Victoria Cross recipients from the First World War by laying commemorative paving stones on the 100th anniversary of their award. But Newton upon Derwent's claim to the tribute as Wood's birthplace was initially challenged by Bristol, where he was buried, and the news that his paver was coming to the East Riding was only confirmed in March 2018.

Addition 13th October 2018 by Phil Gilbank

A 126 years after Harry Blanshard Wood was born in Newton on Derwent, the village's most celebrated son received a permanent memorial to his gallantry.

On the centenary of Wood becoming World War One's only Victoria Cross winner born in the rural East Riding, dignitaries from state, church and armed services joined Newton villagers and members of his family to unveil a plinth at the end of the village, just yards from where he spent his early years. It supports a government VC paver alongside a stone bearing his portrait and details of his life and deed that had been commissioned by locals led by villager, Margaret Horsley.

And it was a remarkable and tragic life. born into a Newton on Derwent farming family in June 1882, Harry Wood won both the Military Medal and Victoria Cross for two acts of exceptional gallantry in the closing weeks of the war. He returned home a hero, met the King three times in the next two years and was chosen as one of Britain's bravest men to be part of the guard of honour for the burial of the unknown warrior in Westminster Abbey in 1920. But his exploits had taken their toll, his health suffered and when his wife was in a minor accident on holiday in Devon in 1924 he collapsed with shock and never recovered, dying a few days later.

Buried in Bristol, his story had never been fully recognised in his home county until the government announced in 2014 it was commemorating all WWI VC winners with a special paver. That saw Newton locals link up with East Riding council officials for the events of Saturday.

Most of the villagers of Newton on Derwent, population just over 300, were in attendance and VIPs from near and far came to join them for the unveiling ceremony. The unveiling was undertaken by the Lord-Lieutentant, the Hon Mrs Susan Cunliffe-Lister, as the Queen's local representative in the East Riding, while the county's High Sheriff was also in attendance, along with chairmen and mayors from local council.

There were prayers and blessings from Reverend Aysha St. Giles, Priest in Charge of The Parish Church of St. John the Baptist, Wilberfoss, from Archbishop of York, The Most Reverend and Rt. Hon. Dr. John Sentamu, and from Rev Neville Simpson, the Methodist minister for Newton on Derwent. Readings followed from Scots Guards' officers Brigadier Kim Ross, OBE, Major-General Murray Naylor, CB, MBE, DL, and Major James Kelly, Regimental Adjutant.

Further tributes and readings came from Colin Wragg, on behalf of the Wood family, the deputy mayor of St Python, the village in France where Wood won his VC, and Kevin Warcup of The Royal British Legion's Pockington Branch

HM Lord-Lieutenant of the East Riding of Yorkshire, The Hon. Mrs. Susan Cunliffe-Lister

High Sheriff of the East Riding of Yorkshire, Mrs. Deborah Rosenberg, and Mr. David Rosenberg

Chairman of East Riding of Yorkshire Council, Councillor Margaret and Mr. Chad Chadwick

Chairman of Newton upon Derwent Parish Council, Parish Councillor Trevor and Mrs. Margaret Horsley

Town Mayor of Pocklington and Mayoress, Town Councillor Dean and Mrs. Ruth Hodgson

Town Crier of the East Riding of Yorkshire, Mr. Michael Wood

Clergy:

Archbishop of York, The Most Reverend and Rt. Hon. Dr. John Sentamu

Reverend Aysha St. Giles, Priest in Charge of The Parish Church of St. John the Baptist, Wilberfoss

Reverend Neville Simpson, Pocklington Methodist Church

Scots Guards:

Major Sir Malcolm MacGregor of MacGregor, Chairman of the Scots Guards Association,

and Lady MacGregor of MacGregor

Major-General Murray Naylor, CB, MBE, DL

Major-General Anthony de C.L. Leask, CB, CBE

Major James Kelly, Regimental Adjutant Scots Guards

Brigadier Kim Ross, OBE

Scots Guardsmen (six – various uniforms)

Scots Guards Piper, Piper Jamie Bell

Saint Python:

Maire Adjoint de Saint-Python (Deputy Mayor)

Royal British Legion:

Mr. Kevin Warcup, Branch Chairman – Royal British Legion Pockington Branch, and Mrs. Warcup

Pocklington Branch – Royal British Legion (three members)

Bugler, Miss Rosie Wilson

Mr. Jeff Dixon, Parade Marshall – Combined Ex Services

Standard Bearers (approximately 10 including Scots Guards and Pocklington RBL)

Relatives - Harry Blanshard Woods:

Mrs. Jennifer Wragg, Great Niece, and Mr. Colin Wragg (Jennifer’s husband)

Mrs. Gillian Pinkney, Great Niece, and sister of Jennifer

Mrs. Jayne Winskill and Mr. Winskill, awaiting confirmation of relationship to Harry

Mr. Mark Willingham, Jayne Winskill's brother, and his wife. Mark says he is fourth cousin, second removed.

individuals to be called forward by the Town Crier:

HM Lord-Lieutenant of the East Riding of Yorkshire

High Sheriff of the East Riding of Yorkshire

Chairman of East Riding of Yorkshire Council

Chairman of Newton upon Derwent Parish Council

Town Mayor of Pocklington

Maire Adjoint de Saint-Python

Family of Corporal Harry Blanshard Wood, VC, MM